Benbrack | |
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Binn Bhreac | |
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South face of Benbrack viewed from Muckanaght, with col of Maumnascalpa at right
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 582 m (1,909 ft)[1] |
Prominence | 264 m (866 ft)[1] |
Listing | Marilyn, Arderin |
Coordinates | 53°32′17″N 9°51′46″W / 53.537986°N 9.862684°W / 53.537986; -9.862684[1] |
Naming | |
English translation | speckled peak |
Language of name | Irish |
Geography | |
Location in Ireland | |
Location | County Galway, Ireland |
Parent range | Twelve Bens |
OSI/OSNI grid | L7655855818 |
Topo map | OSi Discovery37 |
Geology | |
Type of rock | Pale quartzites, grits, graphitic top bedrock[1] |
Benbrack (Irish: Binn Bhreac, meaning 'Speckled Peak')[2] at 582 metres (1,909 ft), is the 251st–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale;[3] while it does not have the elevation to be a Vandeleur-Lynam, it has the prominence to rank as a Marilyn.[4][5] Benbrack is situated on its own small massif to the north of the core Twelve Bens mountain range in the Connemara National ParkinCounty Galway, Ireland. It is the 10th-tallest of the core Twelve Bens, and is linked by a deep col to Muckanaght, which is itself attached by a high ridge to the tallest mountain of the Twelve Bens range, Benbaun at 729 metres (2,392 ft).[5][6]
The name is most likely derived from the lumps of quartzite stones and boulders that are strewn across the summit of Benbrack.[2]
Benbrack sits on its own small massif, with Benbaun and the large massif of the core Twelve Bens lying to the south, connected via a deep col called Maumnascalpa to the Bens of Muckanaght 654 metres (2,146 ft) and Benfree 638 metres (2,093 ft); to the north is Kylemore Lough (and Kylemore Abbey), and across the Lough is the massif of Garraun, which is part of the wider Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex Special Area of Conservation.[6][7]
To the west of Benbrack, at the end of a long spur, is the subsidiary, and similarly named summit of Knockbrack at 442 metres (1,450 ft) (Irish: Cnoc Breac, meaning "speckled hill"). To the north of Benbrack, is the other subsidiary summit of Benbaun, at 447 metres (1,467 ft), which can confused with the larger 729-metre Benbaun to the south, and therefore its other Irish language place name Irish: Maolán (meaning "knoll"), can be used instead.[5][7]
Benbrack lies at the intersection of two major U-shaped valleys, with Glencorbet to the east, and Polladirk to the west (Polladirk can be viewed from a popular scenic viewpoint on the summit of Diamond Hill).[6][5] To the northwest of Benbrack, is the small valley and river of Mweelin Irish: Mweelin, around which Knockbrack, Benbrack and Benbaun (477 m) form a small horseshoe, popular with walkers.[8]
The most straightforward route to climb Benbrack is a 5-kilometre 2.5-hour round-trip via its subsidiary peak of Benbaun, starting and ending at the car park in Kylemore Abbey (L747583); this route can be expanded into the 7-kilometre 3.5 hour Mweelin Horseshoe, by descending via Knockbrack.[6][8][9]
Benbrack is also climbed as part of the Glencorbet Horseshoe, a 14-kilometre 6–7 hour circuit of Kylemore River, usually done counter-clockwise, which takes in the peaks of Benbaun (477 metres), Benbrack, Muckanaght (optional), Benfree, Benbaun (729 metres), and ending at Knockpasheemore.[10][7][11]
Walk 26: Cnoc Breac, Binn Bhreac and Maolan
Route 11: Glencorbet Horseshoe
Route 6: Mweelin
ROUTE 33: The Glencorbet Horseshoe. A true classic
Mountains and hills of Connacht
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Achill Island |
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Dartry Mountains |
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Maumturks |
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Mweelrea Mountains |
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Nephin Range |
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Ox Mountains |
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Partry Mountains |
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Sheeffry Range |
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Benna Beola |
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Others |
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